Barker

Parisian organs built by Barker

Charles Spackman Barker (1804-1879) was born in Bath (UK) and studied medicine at first. But soon he turned to the art of organ building, which he learned in London. He invented the famous Barker-machine, which he brought to Paris in 1837 on invitation of Cavaillé-Coll. He became co-director of the Daublaine-Callinet firm in 1841. He directed the rebuilding of the organ of St Eustache in 1844 and the renovation of the organ of Saint Sulpice in 1846. The Daublaine-Callinet firm was bought by Pierre-Alexandre Ducroquet in 1845 with whom he became associated. In 1855, the company was bought by Joseph Merklin and Barker hold his position until 1857, when he started his own company with his former foreman Charles Verschneider (1825-1865). He built two organs in Paris (Saint-Pierre-de-Montrouge and Saint Augustin). He also renovated the organ of François-Henri Lesclop in Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in 1870. All have been modified.Barker was a pioneer in experimenting with electric keyboard action.He left France during the war of 1870 and moved to Dublin, where he built the organs of the cathedral. He died in 1879.

Barker

Charles Spackman Barker (1804-1879) was born in Bath (UK) and studied medicine at first. But soon he turned to the art of organ building, which he learned in London. He invented the famous Barker-machine, which he brought to Paris in 1837 on invitation of Cavaillé-Coll. He became co-director of the Daublaine-Callinet firm in 1841. He directed the rebuilding of the organ of St Eustache in 1844 and the renovation of the organ of Saint Sulpice in 1846. The Daublaine-Callinet firm was bought by Pierre-Alexandre Ducroquet in 1845 with whom he became associated. In 1855, the company was bought by Joseph Merklin and Barker hold his position until 1857, when he started his own company with his former foreman Charles Verschneider (1825-1865). He built two organs in Paris (Saint-Pierre-de-Montrouge and Saint Augustin). He also renovated the organ of François-Henri Lesclop in Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in 1870. All have been modified.Barker was a pioneer in experimenting with electric keyboard action.He left France during the war of 1870 and moved to Dublin, where he built the organs of the cathedral. He died in 1879.